31 2 PROTECTION STRATEGIES 2.2 MONITORING AND DATA COLLECTION Monitoring and data collection are key aspects of human rights-protection responsibilities and should also serve as the basis for opinions, recommendations, proposals and reports issued by the NHRI (this latter aspect is addressed in the next section, on promotional strategies). Women’s rights and gender equality aspects must be considered at all stages of the monitoring process, from the planning and data-collection strategy to analysis and response. Data can be obtained from complaints, own-initiative investigations, public inquiries and on-site visits. NHRIs should also monitor legislative, judicial and political processes. NHRIs should collect data disaggregated on the basis of sex in relation to complaint handling and outcomes. This includes, among other things, disaggregating data on the sex of the complainants or victims, on the alleged grounds for discrimination, on alleged perpetrators and on the type of alleged violations or abuses. NHRIs can also undertake specialized forms of monitoring, such as ad hoc or systemic audits of employers and/or the public sector to determine the representation of women in the workforce or among elected or appointed officials. In cases where companies or organizations engage in discriminatory practices and fail to comply with recommendations, appropriate administrative procedures may be initiated. Information from monitoring and data collection can also provide the basis for independent reports by NHRIs to treaty bodies. 2.3 COMPLAINT HANDLING AND INVESTIGATIONS / PUBLIC INQUIRIES In the OSCE region, the majority of NHRIs can receive individual complaints. As investigations and complaints-handling are often the main points of contact example The Icelandic Centre for Gender Equality requires all official institutions and private companies with 25 employees or more to have a Gender Equality Action Plan. The Centre monitors the performance of employers over time to assess their progress. In cases on noncompliance, it can impose fines on companies that do not send their action plan within a prescribed period of time. SURVEY RESULTS 56% of NHRIs stated that they register complaints disaggregating them by the sex of the complainants or victims, independently of the alleged ground of discrimination. 71% of NHRIs stated that they register complaints disaggregating them on the basis of the alleged ground of discrimination.